Improvement in carriages



n. L. OGDEN.

Garriag e.

Patented Aug. 10,1875.

NITED STATES PATENT FFIGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CARRIAGES.

Specification forming part-of Letters Patent No. 166,546, dated August 10, 1875; application filed June 22, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RICHARD L. OGDEN, of San Francisco city and county, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Carriages; and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings are sufficient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use my said invention or improvement without further invention or experiment.

My invention relates to certain improvements .in carriages which are provided with tops which it is desirable to open or close at pleasure, such as landaus, &c.; and it consists more especially in a novel construction of the front, so that it can be folded down forward, and yet allow the top to fall back of the drivers seat.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view-of a portion of the front of a carriage, showing my device closed. Fig. 2 is a perspective view with the device open. Fig. 3 is a section of my joint.

A is one of the front posts which support the top of the carriage. By a construction now in use these posts are hinged at their 1 lower ends, so that they can be turned forward and carry the front part of the top with them. This top, however, must pass over the seat and lie across in front of it, which presents an awkward and unsightly appearance, as well as being inconvenient. In my improvement I split the post A part of its length diagonally, as shown, making a joint at b, so that the upper part of the post can be turned back upon the part c as the device is folded down. The part c has its front side hinged to the lower part of the post, as at d, so that it can be folded forward as the upper part folds back, and this causes the cross-bar or rounded front of the vehicle to fall just behind the drivers seat, making the whole very compact and neat. The upper part of the post A extends from the joint b diagonally down past the joint d so far that this joint is materially stiffened, and all looseness or rattlings prevented. This extension may be straight with a beveled end, or it may be curved, as at e. In order to secure the parts A and 0 together, so that they will appear as one solid post when standing in their vertical position, I unite them by means of a clamping-screw, h, or other suitable dcvice,,by which they can be drawn firmly together. Guiding and steadying pins i may be employed, if desired, where the parts lie together when standing up in place. By this construction I am enabled to construct a carriage with a folding top which shall turn down, so as to be out of the way, and yet present a graceful appearance.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 4 1. The post 0, hinged to the carriage-body at d, and having the part A hinged to it at b,

so that the top may be folded back of the seat,

RICHARD L. OGDEN.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. STRONG, J. L. Boone. 

